Western Hills High School (Benbrook, Texas)

Western Hills High School (WHHS) is a secondary school located in Benbrook, Texas, United States, serving the city of Benbrook, portions of western Fort Worth, and unincorporated portions of southwestern Tarrant County. The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD).

Western Hills High School
Address
3600 Boston Avenue

Benbrook
,
Texas
76116

United States
Coordinates32.719°N 97.455°W / 32.719; -97.455
Information
TypePublic High School
Established1968
School districtFort Worth Independent School District
CEEB code442575
Teaching staff79.67 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment918 (2017-18)[1]
Student to teacher ratio11.52[1]
Campus size25 acres
Campus typeUrban/Suburban
Color(s)    Forest Green & Gold
AthleticsUIL Class 4A
Sportstennis, Marching Band, football, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, softball, marching band, men's track & field, men's and women's soccer, swimming & diving, wrestling,
NicknameCougars
RivalBenbrook Middle-High School, Benbrook, Texas
NewspaperThe Mountain Line
YearbookThe Catamount
Feeder schoolsLeonard Middle School and Benbrook Middle School
Websiteschools.fortworthisd.net/westernhills/Pages/default.aspx

History

The Western Hills community encompasses the urban area surrounding the school, the Benbrook city area, southwest Fort Worth, and the rural section west to the Tarrant County line. The city of Benbrook school system once served students in Benbrook and surrounding rural areas. In 1954, all Benbrook students above the sixth grade were transferred to the Fort Worth ISD. In 1962, the Benbrook School District was consolidated into the Fort Worth system, busing the high school students to North Side High School or Arlington Heights High School and its junior high schools to J.P. Elder or William Monnig Junior High. Western Hills was first opened on the campus of Arlington Heights High School in the fall of 1968 with 714 students crowded into thirteen temporary buildings. In January 1969, this student body moved into its new home on the 25-acre tract in West Fort Worth at 3600 Boston Avenue.

The creation of General Dynamics Fort Worth Division in nearby White Settlement spurred an increased enrollment from the original 714 to 2,243 in 1972. At that time the student body was housed not only in the main building with one level but also in 23 portable buildings. With a decreasing student enrollment of 2,052 in the fall of 1980, the school building was expanded to two floors and eliminated the portable buildings.

On October 23, 1989, a briefcase containing a firebomb was found. During an attempt to disarm the device, it exploded, causing mostly smoke damage and no injuries.[2][3] In 1991, the decline of student enrollment had tapered off to 1,503, reflecting of job losses from the sale of General Dynamics' Fort Worth division to Lockheed.

In recent years, school enrollment has ranged between 1,461 and 1,503. Recently, 14 portable buildings have been added to the campus.[4]

Spirit
The Western Hills cougar insignia

The school mascot is the cougar. Official school colors are forest green and gold and throwback colors reflecting early years are yellow and green.

The WHHS student newspaper is The Mountain Line, (a cougar is also known as a mountain lion) begun in the spring of 1970. The paper won the best-in-city award in its first year in a contest sponsored by the Fort Worth press.

Western Hills High School's school annual yearbook is named The Catamount. The name was chosen by the new school's annual staff after suggestions made by annual staff members.

Feeder patterns

Elementary
  • Luella Merrett Elementary
  • Waverly Park Elementary
  • Western Hills Elementary
  • Western Hills Primary

Middle school
  • Leonard Middle School
  • Applied Learning Academy

Academics

Languages

WHHS offers classes in American Sign Language, French, and Spanish.

Sports

WHHS currently competes as a University Interscholastic League Class 4A school.

Baseball

In 2001 Western Hills won the Texas Class 4A State baseball championship.

Football

The Cougars' home games are usually played in the FWISD's Farrington Field, but the team also frequently plays in Herman Clark Stadium and Scarborough-Handley Field when facing opponents that also belong to the school district.

In its inaugural year, the school's football team lost every game. The school years 1969 and 1970 saw the school's football team make a complete turn around and go on to win bi-district both years.

Playoff appearances

The Cougars have competed in the post-season playoffs toward the state title fifteen times, advancing to the second round three times. They have never advanced beyond the second round.

Year Class Division Round W/L Opponent PF PA
1969[5]4ABi-districtWFort Worth O.D. Wyatt Chaparrals287
RegionalLDallas Woodrow Wilson Wildcats2048
1970[6]4ABi-districtLFort Worth I.M. Terrell Panthers89
1982[7]5ABi-districtWWichita Falls S.H. Rider Raiders146
AreaLHurst L.D. Bell Blue Raiders723
1985[8]5ABi-districtLWichita Falls Coyotes2021
1990[9]5ABig schoolBi-districtLArlington Colts2940
1991[10]5ADivision 1Bi-districtLArlington Sam Houston Texans3445
1992[11]5ADivision 1Bi-districtLEuless Trinity Trojans635
1993[12]5ADivision 2Bi-districtLHaltom City Haltom Buffaloes1230
1996[13]4ADivision 1Bi-districtWWeatherford Kangaroos2422
RegionalLAzle Hornets1424
1997[14]4ADivision 1Bi-districtLBrownwood Lions748
2000[15]4ADivision 2Bi-districtLStephenville Yellow Jackets4345
2002[16]4ADivision 2Bi-districtLStephenville Yellow Jackets4563
2003[17]4ADivision 2Bi-districtLAledo Bearcats2652
2005[18]4ADivision 2Bi-districtLSpringtown Porcupines2735
2010[19]4ADivision 1Bi-districtLNorth Richland Hills Birdville Hawks341

Wrestling

Western Hills was only one of six schools in FWISD to have a wrestling team.

Notable people

References
  1. WESTERN HILLS H S
  2. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K_8gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-3IFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4005,5515874&dq=bomb+explodes+fort+worth&hl=en
  3. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=t4IgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=R8AEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2442,4111269&dq=bomb+explodes+fort+worth&hl=en
  4. "WHHS School History". Fort Worth Independent School District. Retrieved 2010-01-17.
  5. "All-Time Playoff Scores: 1969". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. 2007-06-06. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  6. "All-Time Playoff Scores: 1970". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. 2007-06-06. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  7. "All-Time Playoff Scores: 1982 5A". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  8. "All-Time Playoff Scores: 1985 5A". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  9. "All-Time Playoff Scores: 1990 5A". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  10. "All-Time Playoff Scores: 1991 5A". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  11. "All-Time Playoff Scores: 1992 5A". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  12. "All-Time Playoff Scores: 1993 5A". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  13. "All-Time Playoff Scores: 1996 4A". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  14. "All-Time Playoff Scores: 1997 4A". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  15. "All-Time Playoff Scores: 2000 4A". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  16. "All-Time Playoff Scores: 2002 4A". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  17. "All-Time Playoff Scores: 2003 4A". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  18. "All-Time Playoff Scores: 2005 4A". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  19. "2010 Texas High School Football Playoff Brackets, 4A Division 1". MaxPreps.com (CBS). Retrieved 2010-07-17.
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